The legendary Willie Mays' multiple connections to Pittsburgh

One of the greatest, not only baseball players, but athletes of all-time died on Tuesday.

Willie Mays, the “Say Hey Kid” died at 93. He had a lifetime batting average of .301, 3,293 hits, 660 home runs, 1,909 RBI and 339 stolen bases.

He is a Hall of Famer, two-time MVP, World Series Champion, 12-time Gold Glover and 24-time All-Star!

While he spent his career with the New York/San Francisco Giants and New York Mets, Mays has his connections to Pittsburgh baseball.

Former Pirates pitcher and broadcaster Steve Blass called Mays the “face of the game” and told The Big K Morning Show what Mays did after Roberto Clemente’s 3,000th hit.

“When Clemente got his 3,000 ^th hit, in between innings after that event, Willie was nice and came across from one dugout to the next to be with Roberto Clemente,” said Blass.

Blass said it was a special moment he’ll never forgot.

Pirates player Andrew McCutchen spoke after Tuesday night’s game against the Cincinnati Reds and said Hays called him “Pittsburgh”.

“That was my nickname to him. I was from Pittsburgh,” McCutchen said via Andrew Destin of the Post-Gazette .

“His legacy is going to live on,” McCutchen told Destin. “Anyone who has ever come in contact with Mays for even a day is going to have a story, is going to have something.”

And, of course, there is Barry Bonds. The former Pirates outfielder will be inducted into the Pirates Hall of Fame later this season. He was Bonds’ Godfather.

On Instagram , Bonds wrote, “I am beyond devastated and overcome with emotion. I have no words to describe what you mean to me- you helped shape me to be who I am today. Thank you for being my Godfather and always being there. Give my dad a hug for me.
Rest in peace Willie, I love you forever.”